Racing game apparatus



April 21, 1964 PEARSON, JR 3,129,941

RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l NV TOR.

April 21, 1954 c. PEARoN, JR 3,129,941

RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A in.. MI 111 m I INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,129,941 RACWG GAME APPARATUS Charles Pearson, Jr., 396 Huntington Lane, Elmhurst, 111. Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 57,026 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-86) This invention relates to a toy racing device.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a toy racing game utilizing a track and racing objects, with a play station controlling the movement of a respective racing object, wherein the racing objects are each independently advanced on the track by the skill of the player in playing at his respective play station without regard to the other players.

Another object of this invention is to provide a racing game in the form of a circular track wherein each of the separate racing objects is under the respective separate control of an individual player and wherein each time a player accurately projects a ball-like object the respective racing object will be advanced on the track.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy racing game which is highly entertaining and in which the result is dependent on the skill of the players.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the racing toy ofthis invention and showing same to be operated by two players.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 55 of FIGURE 4, and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view partly in section taken on lines 66 of FIGURE 4.

The toy generally comprises an annular track designated generally by the numeral 10, and two diametrically oppositely positioned playing stations generally designated by the numerals 12 and 14, each operated by a player. The two playing stations 12 and 14 are of identical construction. While two playing stations are shown in the drawings, it will be understood that three, four, or any other number of playing stations may be utilized, as will be subsequently described.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the track includes an annular supporting member having an annular wall 16 from which extends inwardly a pair of spaced annular U-shaped trackways 18 and 20, and continuing inwardly from the inner trackway 20 is the flat horizontal wall surface 21 which closes the top central portion of the supporting member. The foregoing may be integrally formed if same is molded of plastic. The opposite horizontal wall portions adjacent each of the trackways is provided with spaced raised projections 22 on which rest the rotating annular members to be described.

Since there are two playing stations 12 and 14 shown in the drawings, there are provided two separate rotatable annular members or ring members 24 and 26. The outer annular ring member 24 has a larger circumference than the inner ring member 26. The outer annular ring 24 is provided with a centrally positioned annular depending extension 28, the bottom of which is provided with continuous teeth 30. The rotatable outer annular ring 24 is positioned so that the extension 28 thereof extends into the trackway 18, with the underside of the ring member 24 resting lightly on the raised projections 22. A toy car 32 is fixedly secured to the top of annular member 24. In place of a car, a toy horse or any other type of figure may be used.

The inner annular ring 26 likewise has a centrally posi- "ice tioned annular depending extension 34, the bottom of which is provided with continuous teeth 36. The extension 34 extends into the trackway 20 withthe underside of ring member 26 resting lightly on the raised projections 22. The teeth 36 on the inner annular member 26 are smaller than the teeth 30 on the outer annular member 24.

Each of the annular members is operated to rotate independently of the other and each annular member is rotated through actuation of a rotating member in the play stations. A plurality of T-shaped members are secured to the supporting member between the trackways 18 and 20 so that the annular members 24 and 26 are retained when the toy is inverted. Play station 12 controls the rotation of the outer ring 24 and the oppositely positioned play station 14 controls the rotation of the inner ring 26. The play stations 12 and 14 are of identical construction and hence only one will be described in detail.

The housing portion 38 of play station 12 is molded integrally with the annular supporting member and includes an outwardly extending top wall 40 which extends from the annular wall 16, and a partially downwardly extending front wall 42 and opposite side walls 44 extending the height of wall 16. The side Walls 44 continue forwardly as at 46 and are of a reduced height. The top wall 40 has a central opening 50 to accommodate a ball-like object having suificient weight to rotate a paddlelike wheel to be described. Secured between the side walls 44 and their forward extensions 46 is an inclined trough 52 generally of concave shape sloping downwardly towards the front, as best seen in FIGURE 4.

A paddle-like wheel 54 with a plurality, preferably four blades, is positioned between walls 16 and 42 and below the opening 50 so that the ball will engage the horizontally positioned blade under the opening 50. The paddle wheel 54 is fixedly supported on a shaft 56, which in turn is supported in suitable openings in walls 16 and 42.

The shaft 56 extends into the interior of the supporting member and has fixed to it a gear or pinion 58 in mesh with the teeth 30 of the outer annular member 24. The opposite end of the shaft 56 is suitably supported in a bracket 60 secured to the central surface 21. A portion of the trackway 18 is cut away as at 62 to accommodate the pinion 58 so that it can engage the teeth 30 of the ring member 24.

The inclined trough 52 narrows towards the front. Supported at the front of the trough is an upwardly extending bracket 64 on which is pivotally secured as at 66 a lever or flipper 68, the front part of which extends exteriorly of the play station, the major portion of which extends inside the play station with the rear end of the lever resting on the narrowed end of the inclined bottom trough. A transparent housing 70 encases the play station.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the ball-like member 72 normally rests on the rear end of the lever 68 and when the lever is depressed the ball member is projected, as indicated by the arrow line in FIGURE 4, and if the lever has been properly actuated or properly depressed the ball will enter the opening 50 and fall downwardly, thereby striking one of the blades of the paddle wheel 54 to rotate the paddle wheel in the structure shown a one-fourth turn, thereby rotating shaft 56 and pinion 58 thereon onefourth or three pinion teeth, which in turn moves the outer ring 24 a distance of three teeth, thereby advancing the car 32 fixed thereon a corresponding distance. After the ball 72 leaves the wheel 54 it will roll down the inclined trough 52 and on to the lever 68 to be again pro jected.

The inner annular member 26 is operated by the oppositely positioned play station 14 which is identical to the play station just described. The opposite play station 14 has a paddle wheel 74 supported on a shaft 76 which has a fixed pinion 78 thereon in engagement with the teeth 36 on the inner annular member 26. The opposite end of the shaft is likewise supported in a suitable bracket 80. The lever or flipper 82 operates and projects a ball 84 for rotating the paddle wheel 74. As is understood, when the ball 84 in play station 14 is projected into the opening in said play station it will fall on the paddle wheel 74 and rotate it in the same manner as previously described with respect to the other play station.

To compensate for the difference in circumference between the annular members 24 and 26 and the distance to be traveled by the respective racing cars on each, the teeth 36 on the inner annular member 26 are equal in number to the teeth 30 on the outer annular member 24 but are of a smaller pitch diameter. The pinions 58 and 78 likewise each have an equal number of teeth with pitch diameters corresponding to the teeth they mesh with so that when the outer annular member is moved with each play it will move the same number of degrees of a circle as a single movement of the inner annular member. Thus, in starting the game when both cars are in starting position, side by side, each will move a corresponding number of degrees with each actuation and the first car which reaches the finish line will be the winning car.

While two play stations are shown they are shown merely for illustrative purposes. It will be understood that two, three, four, or any number of play stations may be utilized. If four play stations are used, the two addi tional play stations are positioned opposite each other. Two additional annular members like 24 and 26 would then be utilized and positioned in the space occupied by the horizontal wall 21. Each annular member would be operated by a mechanism similar to that shown. If three play stations are utilized they would be placed preferably 120 from each other with three annular members being operated.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy racing game comprising a supporting member, a plurality of ringlike members rotatably supported on said supporting member, a plurality of play stations secured to said supporting member, said play stations extending exteriorly of said ring-like members and positioned in diametrically opposed relation circumferentially with respect to said ring-like members, there being one play station for each ring-like member, a rotatable member supported in each said play station, means mechanically connecting each said rotatable member with a respective ringlike member for rotating same, an apertured member in each play station, a hand operated flipper supported in each play station, a ball-like member adapted to be flipped through said aperture by said flipper to engage the rotatable member to rotate same and through said means to rotate said respective ring-like member, said rotatable member comprising a paddle wheel having paddles thereon at equal angular distances, said wheel being constructed and arranged so that said paddles are successively moved into direct alignment with said aperture and the spacing of said paddles being such as to cause the displacement of one paddle by said ball-like member to move the next paddle into direct alignment with said aperture, said flipper being pivotally supported intermediate its opposite ends so that the ball-like member will rest on the inner end of the flipper and the outer end may be manually depressed to pivot said flipper and project the ball-like member into the aperture.

2. A toy racing game as described in claiml, said means mechanically connecting each said rotatable member with a resepctive ring-like member comprising teeth on the underside of each ring-like member and cooperating pinions on said rotatable members.

3. A toy racing game as defined in claim 2, in which each said ring-like member has a simulated toy object fixedly secured thereto to rotate with said ring-like member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,098 Doglione Sept. 2, 1919 2,526,215 Florimont Oct. 17, 1950 2,819,083 Schitfman Jan. 7, 1958 2,828,129 Gelfand Mar. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,761 Germany Sept. 29, 1913 216,787 Great Britain June 5, 1924 6,529 Australia July 12, 1927 

1. A TOY RACING GAME COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF RING-LIKE MEMBERS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF PLAY STATIONS SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID PLAY STATIONS EXTENDING EXTERIORLY OF SAID RING-LIKE MEMBERS AND POSITIONED IN DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED RELATION CIRCUMFERENTIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID RING-LIKE MEMBERS, THERE BEING ONE PLAY STATION FOR EACH RING-LIKE MEMBER, A ROTATABLE MEMBER SUPPORTED IN EACH SAID PLAY STATION, MEANS MECHANICALLY CONNECTING EACH SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER WITH A RESPECTIVE RINGLIKE MEMBER FOR ROTATING SAME, AN APERTURED MEMBER IN EACH PLAY STATION, A HAND OPERATED FLIPPER SUPPORTED IN EACH PLAY STATION, A BALL-LIKE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE FLIPPED THROUGH SAID APERTURE BY SAID FLIPPER TO ENGAGE THE ROTATABLE MEMBER TO ROTATE SAME AND THROUGH SAID MEANS TO ROTATE SAID RESPECTIVE RING-LIKE MEMBER, SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER COMPRISING A PADDLE WHEEL HAVING PADDLES THEREON AT EQUAL ANGULAR DISTANCES, SAID WHEEL BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT SAID PADDLES ARE SUCCESSIVELY MOVED INTO DIRECT ALIGNMENT WITH SAID APERTURE AND THE SPACING OF SAID PADDLES BEING SUCH AS TO CAUSE THE DISPLACEMENT OF ONE PADDLE BY SAID BALL-LIKE MEMBER TO MOVE THE NEXT PADDLE INTO DIRECT ALIGNMENT WITH SAID APERTURE, SAID FLIPPER BEING PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED INTERMEDIATE ITS OPPOSITE ENDS SO THAT THE BALL-LIKE MEMBER WILL REST ON THE INNER END OF THE FLIPPER AND THE OUTER END MAY BE MANUALLY DEPRESSED TO PIVOT SAID FLIPPER AND PROJECT THE BALL-LIKE MEMBER INTO THE APERTURE. 